Let’s face it, India’s electric scooter market is bursting at the seams. From legacy two-wheeler giants to scrappy start-ups, everyone’s tossing their hat into the EV ring, hoping to strike that golden balance of price, practicality, and plug-in peace of mind. But with choices coming at you faster than traffic on an Indian expressway, picking the right e-scooter is like choosing your favourite chaat stall, everything looks good, but pick the wrong one and you’ll live with regret.
Enter Hero MotoCorp’s EV arm, Vida, swinging with the VX2, a scooter designed not just to survive India’s chaotic roads, but also the even more chaotic world of EV charging. With removable batteries, you can carry and charge like a laptop, the VX2 wants to kill the extension-cord struggle once and for all. But is convenience enough to stand out in India’s packed EV gridlock? I hopped on to find out.
Simplicity is the name of the game, and the Vida VX2 plays it smart. While many EVs these days try to scream for attention with over-the-top styling, Hero goes for the quiet, practical charm that works for the masses. Unlike its sharper, more polarising sibling, the Vida V1, the VX2 feels familiar. And that’s exactly the point.
You get the signature Vida headlamp nestled neatly into the upper cowl, flanked by indicator pods. The side panels are clean, the rear is uncontroversial, and the overall design is… well, safe. But it works. Especially if you want something that doesn’t scream ‘look at me!’ every time you park it.
Where it scores serious points is with the seat, a wide, plush, single-piece setup that comfortably accommodates two. The integrated pillion backrest is a thoughtful touch, offering extra comfort without looking clunky. It’s small details like these that make the VX2 a genuinely people-first scooter.
Range anxiety is real. That nagging fear of being stranded mid-commute with 2% battery and no charger in sight is every EV owner’s nightmare. But with the VX2, Hero’s done well to dial that stress down.
It shares its platform with the Vida V1 and comes with removable battery packs, two on the VX2 Plus (3.4kWh combined), and one on the base VX2 Go (2.2kWh). You can charge them onboard or take them indoors, no balcony gymnastics with extension cords required.
You also get a bundled 580W charger that plugs into any regular 5A wall socket. Despite being lower wattage than a 650W charger, Hero claims similar charging times, 0 to 100% in about 5 hours and 39 minutes, thanks to a more stable output.
Storage? Surprisingly decent. Even with both batteries under the seat, there’s 27.2 litres of boot space, enough, Hero claims, for a helmet. My full-face lid didn’t quite fit, but an open-face or smaller full-face should slot in. Opt for the single-battery VX2 Go and you get a roomier 33 litres.
In terms of range, Hero claims an IDC-certified 142 km for the Plus variant, but real-world expectations are closer to 100 km in Eco mode. Ride and Sport modes drop that to around 75 km and 65 km respectively, still respectable for daily commutes.
Hero’s had a solid track record with riding ergonomics, and the VX2 continues that streak. At 6 feet tall, I often find myself slouching on most scooters just to get comfortable. Not here. The VX2’s 777mm seat height and flat footboard make for a natural, upright posture, even with bulky riding boots on.
But tall riders, take note: the handlebar ends do brush against your knees during tight turns. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does require scooting back a little, something to keep in mind if you’re lanky like me.
Underneath, the VX2 runs a swingarm-mounted PMSM motor that puts out 8 bhp peak power (5.2 bhp continuous) and 2.54 kgm of torque. The top speed is limited to 80 kph for the VX2 Plus and 70 kph for the Go. In Ride mode, that drops to 70kph, and Eco mode further dials it down to a modest 45kph, which, frankly, feels a bit too slow for typical city use.
But here’s the magic: refinement. Throttle response is beautifully tuned, and the near-absence of regen braking on a closed throttle makes for a smooth, intuitive ride. It doesn’t fight you, it just flows. The suspension setup deserves praise, too. It’s not spongy-soft, nor is it rock-hard. Instead, it strikes that Goldilocks balance that flattens out bumps, absorbs bad patches, and glides over speed breakers. Easily among the most comfortable scooters in its class.
Then there’s Boost Mode, a clever feature that gives you a power surge when you twist the throttle past a certain angle in Eco or Ride mode. It’s great for overtakes, but a tad too sensitive. Thankfully, you can switch it off if you’re not a fan of sudden surprises.
The VX2 comes packed with features that matter. You get a 4.3-inch digital display with smartphone connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, over-the-air updates, and all-LED lighting. The three ride modes: Eco, Ride, and Sport — are joined by Boost Mode. You also get alloy wheels, CBS braking, and a mechanical key setup. No gimmicks, just useful tech that works.
One of the most interesting aspects of the VX2 is Hero’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model. This flexible approach significantly cuts down the initial price — ₹44,990 for the VX2 Go and ₹54,990 for the Plus (inclusive of PM E-Drive subsidy and launch offer). The catch? The battery is on a subscription. You pick a plan (2 to 5 years), based on your monthly riding needs. Once your plan is over, the battery and the scooter are entirely yours. It’s a clever workaround that makes EV ownership far more approachable, especially for budget-conscious urban riders.
The Vida VX2 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s a well-thought-out, well-built electric scooter that prioritises everyday usability over showboating. It looks neat, rides smoothly, charges easily, and costs less than many smartphones on EMI. The ride quality is impressive, the removable batteries are practical, and the BaaS model makes it even more accessible.
Of course, a proper long-term test will reveal how Hero’s battery plans and charging convenience hold up in the real world. But for now, the VX2 seems like a genuinely clever solution to the everyday urban commute, one that ditches drama in favour of good old-fashioned common sense.
